Silver Oak And Twomey Cellars Announce Two Key Winemaking Appointments
Nate Weis as Silver Oak Winemaker; Erin Miller as Twomey Pinot Noir Winemaker
OAKVILLE, Calif., June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duncan family of Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars announced today the appointment of Nate Weis as Winemaker for Silver Oak and Erin Miller as Pinot Noir Winemaker for Twomey. Reporting to longtime Silver Oak and Twomey Director of Winemaking Daniel Baron, both winemakers will be responsible for managing wine production from grape to bottle and serving as ambassadors for their respective wineries.
"Nate and Erin embody the intelligence, vision and energy of our culture – characteristics that ensure the thoughtful guidance of Silver Oak and Twomey into the future," said David R. Duncan, President and CEO of Silver Oak and Twomey, who noted that Weis is only the third winemaker in the 42-year history of Silver Oak.
Weis, a Napa Valley native and second generation winemaker, joins Silver Oak with over ten years of experience, having previously worked with Patz & Hall Wine Company, Etude Wines, and most recently as Winemaker for Antica Napa Valley and Aril Wines. In 2014, he was selected as a "Professional to Watch" by The North Bay Business Journal in its annual "40 Under 40" awards. Weis holds a BS in Biopsychology/Neuroscience from UC Santa Barbara, an MS in Viticulture & Enology from UC Davis and an MBA from Sonoma State University.
Erin Miller was most recently with Provingage Wine Associates, working for Evening Land Vineyards as California Winemaker and Oregon Assistant Winemaker and managing four boutique wineries. Previously she worked for Hartford Family Winery and Kendall-Jackson's Vinwood Cellars. Erin earned her MS from UC Davis, and holds a BA in Mathematics and Russian Language Studies from Lewis and Clark College. Prior to entering the winemaking profession, Miller spent nearly three years in the U.S. Peace Corps based in Niger, West Africa.
Weis and Miller worked together previously, collaborating on research into Grape Berry Shrivel while earning their Masters degrees at UC Davis. That work resulted in the publication of Inception, Progression and Compositional Consequences of 'Berry Shrivel' Disorder in The American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.[1]
"Nate's roots in the Napa Valley and the wine industry, his deep experience with Cabernet Sauvignon and his relentless focus on continuous improvement – one of our core values -- make him an excellent match for Silver Oak," said Daniel Baron, who began working side by side with Silver Oak's first winemaker, Justin Meyer, as Winegrower in 1994 and Winemaker in 1996, before taking over the reins as Director of Winemaking in 2001. "Meanwhile, Erin's passion for vineyard-driven winemaking and her reputation for crafting site-specific Pinot Noirs are qualities that are sure to benefit the continued development of the Twomey Pinot Noir program."
About Silver Oak Cellars
Silver Oak Cellars was co-founded in 1972 by Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer and is dedicated exclusively to producing Cabernet Sauvignon that is aged to be drinkable upon release. The winery makes two wines at two separate facilities: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its winery in Oakville, CA and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its winery in Geyserville, CA. For more information, visit silveroak.com.
About Twomey Cellars
In 1999, the Duncan Family established Twomey Cellars to pursue varietals outside of Cabernet Sauvignon. Twomey produces Pinot Noir, Merlot and an estate Sauvignon Blanc at its wineries in Healdsburg and Calistoga, CA. David and Tim Duncan serve as Managing Partners and Daniel Baron serves as Director of Winemaking. For more information, visit twomey.com.
More: silveroak.com twomey.com
[1] Krasnow, M, Weis, N, Smith, RJ, Benz, MJ, Matthews, M and Shackel, K. 2009. AJEV 60(1): 24-34
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SOURCE Silver Oak Cellars
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